Crash tributes

By Tania Martin
FRIENDS and family have paid tribute to a Monbulk woman who was killed when her car was involved in a head-on collision on Easter Sunday.
Aurelia (Elica) Pia Rizmal, 62, was on her way home after broadcasting her SBS Slovenian radio program on Sunday, 16 April, when the car she was driving was involved in the crash on Monbulk Road, south of Grant’s Picnic Ground, between Belgrave and Kallista.
And it has been revealed that Ms Rizmal died just 200 metres from where her son was killed in a crash near Kallista 25 years ago.
Ms Rizmal was said to be known for her loving nature and will be sadly missed.
She had shared Easter messages from around the globe and discussed the tradition of Slovenian Easter celebrations and a religious conclusion of the risen Christ on the SBS radio program that morning.
She was just minutes from her family home when the crash took place.
Ms Rizmal is remembered by her family, friends and colleagues at SBS as a loving mother, wife and dedicated advocate, especially those in the Slovenian community.
She was instrumental in the fight for Slovenian independence in 1991, arranging many interviews with the Australian and Slovenian diplomatic dignitaries.
As secretary of the Slovenian National Council, Ms Rizmal also had the opportunity to represent the organisation at the Slovenian World Congress.
Life tested Ms Rizmal in 1981 when she lost her son Matjaz in a road accident just a couple of kilometres away from where her car crashed.
Following his death, Ms Rizmal found refuge in children’s programs in the Slovenian language segment on radio 3EA, and for almost two years volunteered for work in women’s refuge centres.
This led to her involvement with the preparation and coordination of the Slovenian language programs on 3AE.
She had also been an ambassador of the annual cutting of the tradition Slovenian Old Vine festivals, when a cutting of the 400-year-old vine from Slovenia was planted in the Shire of Yarra Ranges as a symbol of goodwill and mutual friendship.
Draga Gelt of SBS said throughout her life, Ms Rizmal was known as a keen adventurer and she travelled from cosmopolitan Paris to the rugged Andes of South America.
Ms Gelt said Ms Rizmal’s last trip was only a few months ago when she went on a second honeymoon with her partner of 46 years, Vinko.
The couple was accompanied on their trip by their daughter Zalika in Peru and Ecuador.
Ms Gelt said Ms Rizmal was a devoted wife to Vinko and a loving mother to Kris, the late Matjaz, Bojan and daughter, Zalika.
“She was a warm, positive person, with a smile on her face, caring love, kindness and a cheerful heart.
“Wherever she went, and whomever she met, she found strength and energy in giving her whole self to whatever life threw at her,” she said.
Mr Gelt said Ms Rizmal was an astonishing woman who worked with all her heart for the Slovenian community but was also a great friend, wife, and mother. “Elica knew how to live and how to love and she will be missed,” Ms Gelt said.
Ms Rizmal’s Slovenian program was broadcast on SBS Radio on Tuesday and Sunday morning from 8-9am on 1224AM.